13th Edition Of EEZ Management And Operations Course Held In Accra

Mr Kwame Owusu, Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority has urged participants at the just ended 13th Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Management and Operations Course, to use the knowledge acquired to manage the maritime industry to yield impactful results.

He reminded them that no scale of effort or sacrifice was too small to shape interest in the EEZ for the prosperity of the people and generations to come.

Mr Owusu made the call at the closing ceremony of the Course at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra.

The 13th EEZ Management and Operations Course, which was a week-long programme began at GAFCSC on Monday February 12 and ended on Friday February, 16 2018.

The aim of the course was to provide professionals in the maritime industry, affiliated stakeholders and important makers in the maritime industry with the background knowledge required for the effective EEZ management and operations.

Participants of the Course comprised of 58 regular students of GAFCSC Senior Course 39 and 20, as well as external participants from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The external participants were drawn from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority, Maritime University, GTV, NACOB, EPA, University of Ghana, Ghana Marine Police and Fisheries Commission among others.

Mr Owusu said: 'we cannot over emphasise the need for a dialogue when it comes to maritime security issues if we want to sustain the economic potentials of our great and well-endowed country that is why this College relentlessly organises this course annually.

'It is thus gratifying to note that this challenge was accorded the seriousness it deserves by each and every one of you, by this you have all contributed your quota to the long term development of our respective institutions.

'We have indeed demonstrated the need to take our destinies into our own hands to turn our fortunes around and have booked a place in history as people who have contributed towards the security and conservation of our common heritage', he said.

Mr Owusu commended Resource persons for their support towards the course as well as other stakeholders whose support made the programme successful.

Resource persons for the course were drawn from GAFCSC, the Ghana Navy, Maritime University, University of Ghana and GIMPA.

The subject areas covered included: International Maritime Law, Maritime Threats, Search and Rescue at Sea, Fishery Resources in Ghana's EEZ, Meteorology and Oceanography, Oil Spillage Response, Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems, amongst others.